Mk.9:14–29 Discipleship: Faith & Prayer, Preacher: Pastor Suh, MyungS(…

Mk.9:14–29 Discipleship: Faith & Prayer, Preacher: Pastor Suh, MyungS(Palomar Kor.Church)

14-29, 14.When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15.As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. 16."What are you arguing with them about?" he asked.17.A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18.Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not." 19."You unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." 20.So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
21.Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he answered. 22."It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." 23." 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for one who believes." 24.Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" 25.When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again." 26.The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He's dead." 27.But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. 28.After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" 29.He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."

1. Jesus Descends from the Mountain (vv. 14–18)
Jesus came down from the glory of the mountain to the painful reality of ‘below the mountain.’ The nine disciples remaining below were in a state of helplessness, unable to cast out a demon. Their failure provided an opportunity for the scribes to criticize and mock them. 

2. Jesus Meets the Boy’s Father (vv. 19–24)/Jesus lamented over the ‘unbelieving generation,’ which included both the crowd and the disciples. The father, in desperation, asked, ‘If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.’Jesus responded, “'If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes,” shifting the focus from the son's illness to the father’s faith. The father cried out, “Help my unbelief!”—a confession of his spiritual need.   

3. Jesus Casts Out the Demon (vv. 25–27)/By the authority of God, Jesus commanded the "deaf and mute spirit" to come out and never enter again.  
As the spirit left, the boy appeared dead, but Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up.  
This act of "raising him up" foreshadows Jesus’ own future resurrection.   
4. The Prayer of Faith (vv. 28–29)/ The disciples privately asked why they had failed. Jesus pointed out that "this kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer". Their failure was due to a lack of constant reliance and "faith-filled prayer" toward God.  

5. The Secret to Living Powerfully as a Disciple of Jesus   
1) Come before the Lord: The first step to solving any problem is bringing it to Jesus, who embraces our suffering and failure. 2) Believe in the Lord’s power: We must trust not in our own willpower, but in the authority and compassion of Christ. 3) Believe in the power of prayer: Spiritual strength comes from persistent, faithful communication with God, not from our past experiences or titles.   

6. Prayer/"Gracious Heavenly Father, we believe that a true disciple is one who overcomes the world through the power of prayer. We commit to bringing our current problems before You and turning them into subjects of prayer. In this generation filled with unbelief and skepticism, please let us be blessed saints who experience and witness the power of the living God. Amen."